Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager Company: Takeda (BioLife Plasma Services) Location: Bannockburn, IL / Chicago, IL (Hybrid) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Creative & Media / Marketing / Healthcare Management Date Posted: October 16, 2025 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end creative process for organic social media content, from ideation and production to multi-channel execution, leveraging both traditional creative tools and emerging AI technologies.
• Serve as a versatile creative generalist, capable of producing a wide range of content including video, user-generated content, print materials, and digital assets to support brand initiatives and center operations.
• Drive innovation in creative workflows and storytelling by actively exploring and integrating cutting-edge AI solutions to enhance efficiency and elevate the quality of produced content.
• Oversee comprehensive digital asset management, ensuring seamless ingestion, meticulous curation, organized archiving, and efficient retrieval of all custom photo and video assets for business use, while managing stakeholder feedback and approval processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role bridges creative design, content strategy, and operational efficiency, with a strong emphasis on leveraging new technologies like AI for content creation and asset management within a regulated healthcare environment. The hybrid nature suggests a need for strong self-management and communication skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Ideate, produce, and execute engaging organic social media content by visiting BioLife centers, utilizing mobile-based tools, and employing creative software to capture and craft compelling narratives.
• Develop, capture, and edit high-impact social media content, video assets, and print collateral to support BioLife center activities, brand campaigns, and corporate initiatives.
• Champion the adoption and integration of both hands-on creative tools and advanced AI technologies to streamline content production pipelines and foster creative innovation.
• Function as the primary Digital Asset Manager, responsible for the ingestion, categorization, organization, and archiving of all custom photo and video content sourced from internal teams and external vendors.
• Design and implement effective branded templates and graphics tailored for social media platforms, in-center collateral (e.g., window clings, posters), and executive-level presentations.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, social media, and web development teams to ensure content alignment with overall strategies and to deliver cohesive, multi-platform campaign executions.
• Aggregate stakeholder feedback effectively and manage the administrative and regulatory approval processes for all creative assets, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to compliance.
• Maintain meticulously organized and easily accessible libraries of approved assets, facilitating quick retrieval for business needs and stakeholder requests.
• Ensure all produced content strictly adheres to Takeda's brand guidelines and complies with all relevant regulatory standards within the healthcare industry.
• Proactively identify and implement creative strategies to enhance user-generated content (UGC) and maintain brand consistency across all visual assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on creative execution, strategic content development, and operational management of creative assets within a regulated industry. The emphasis on AI and UGC suggests a forward-thinking approach to content creation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Marketing, Communications, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience in a creative discipline.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in creative and/or design roles, preferably within a corporate marketing department, advertising agency, or branding firm, with a proven track record in both digital and print media production.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in fast-paced environments, managing multiple projects with tight deadlines and evolving priorities, typical of a regulated industry.
• Proven experience in engaging with diverse stakeholder groups, from on-site personnel and donors to senior executives and external experts, showcasing strong relationship-building capabilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, SharePoint, Outlook, Teams) for reporting, presentations, and collaboration.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Mastery: Fluency and demonstrated expertise in Adobe Creative Suite applications, including Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and After Effects, for comprehensive content creation and manipulation.
• Content Creation & Production: Proven ability to ideate, capture (photo/video), edit, and produce high-quality multimedia content for social media, digital platforms, and print collateral.
• Digital Asset Management (DAM): Strong understanding and practical experience in managing digital assets, including ingestion, organization, curation, archiving, and retrieval systems.
• Brand & Regulatory Compliance: Keen understanding of brand guidelines and experience ensuring creative output meets regulatory standards, particularly within the healthcare or pharmaceutical sector.
• AI & Emerging Technologies: Demonstrated interest and ability to explore and leverage AI tools and emerging technologies to enhance creative workflows and content output.

Preferred Skills:

• Spanish Language Proficiency: Fluency in spoken and written Spanish to support diverse donor and employee populations.
• User-Generated Content (UGC) Strategy: Experience in developing strategies to effectively source, curate, and integrate user-generated content.
• Motion Graphics & Animation: Proficiency in creating motion graphics and animations for enhanced digital content.
• Video Storytelling: Advanced skills in narrative video production and editing to convey compelling brand stories.

📝 Enhancement Note: The educational requirement is flexible, emphasizing practical experience. The skills list prioritizes core creative tools and operational management of assets, with AI proficiency being a key differentiator. Spanish fluency is a valuable, though not mandatory, asset given the company's operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Creative Showcase: A curated portfolio demonstrating a wide range of creative work across digital (social media, web graphics) and print mediums, highlighting versatility in style and execution.
• Process Improvement Case Studies: Examples of how creative processes were optimized for efficiency, quality, or impact, particularly in content production, asset management, or workflow automation.
• System Utilization Examples: Visual or descriptive evidence of how you've used design and asset management systems (e.g., DAM platforms, Adobe Creative Suite features) to achieve project goals.
• ROI/Impact Demonstration: While not always direct, present projects where creative output demonstrably contributed to marketing objectives, brand awareness, or operational efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Showcase examples of designing or improving creative workflows, including content ideation, production, review cycles, and asset archiving.
• Implementation & Automation: Demonstrate experience implementing new creative tools, technologies (like AI for content generation), or processes to enhance team productivity and output quality.
• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Include instances where you've analyzed the performance of creative assets (e.g., social media engagement, asset utilization rates) to inform future creative decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Manager role, the portfolio is critical. It should not only showcase aesthetic talent but also demonstrate an understanding of process, efficiency, and the strategic application of creative assets within a business context. Specific examples of AI integration and asset management best practices will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $111,800 - $175,670 USD per year
• Note: This range is provided by Takeda for the Bannockburn, IL location and reflects the expected compensation based on the role's responsibilities, experience requirements, and market data. The final offer will be determined by individual qualifications, relevant experience, specific skills, educational attainment, certifications, and geographic location.

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans; well-being benefits.
• Retirement Planning: 401(k) plan with company match.
• Income Protection: Short-term and long-term disability coverage; basic life insurance.
• Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement program; opportunities for continuous learning and skill enhancement.
• Time Off: Generous paid vacation accrual (up to 120 hours for new hires), 80 hours of sick time per calendar year, and paid volunteer time off.
• Holidays: Company-observed holidays.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time workweek, approximately 40 hours. The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility between remote and in-office work, with specific days in the office likely determined by team needs and Takeda's hybrid work policy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Design Manager role in the Chicago metropolitan area. The benefits package is robust, offering a holistic approach to employee well-being and professional growth, which is attractive to experienced professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare / Biotechnology / Plasma Services. BioLife Plasma Services operates within the critical sector of plasma donation and processing, essential for manufacturing life-saving therapies for rare diseases. This industry is highly regulated and requires a strong emphasis on safety, quality, and ethical practices. Company Size: Takeda is a large, global pharmaceutical company. BioLife Plasma Services, as a subsidiary, operates a significant network of 255+ plasma donation centers across the United States. This scale implies structured corporate processes, significant resources, and opportunities for impact across a wide operational footprint. Founded: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited was founded in 1781, bringing a long history of innovation and commitment to health. BioLife Plasma Services operates as a key part of Takeda's broader mission.

Team Structure:

• Operations Focus: The role supports BioLife Plasma Services, a customer-facing operational division. The Design Manager will likely be part of a broader Marketing or Communications team, working closely with social media, web, and local center management.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: This role demands extensive collaboration with various departments, including Marketing, Social Media, Web Development, and potentially Operations leadership at the center level, to ensure cohesive brand messaging and content delivery.
• Reporting: The Design Manager will report to a Marketing Manager or Director, with direct interaction with social media strategists and web content managers.

Methodology:

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creative, the role is expected to be data-informed, using insights from social media performance and stakeholder feedback to refine content strategies and asset creation.
• Agile Content Production: The fast-paced nature of social media and the need for rapid response content suggest an agile approach to content development, review, and deployment.
• AI Integration: A key methodological focus is the innovative use of AI tools to optimize creative workflows, enhance content quality, and improve production efficiency.

Company Website: https://www.takeda.com/ and https://www.biolifeplasma.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Takeda's global presence and BioLife's operational scale is crucial. The company culture likely balances a strong sense of purpose (saving lives) with corporate professionalism, a need for compliance, and an embrace of innovation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-to-senior level management role within the creative and marketing operations function. It requires not only creative talent but also project management, strategic thinking, and the ability to lead and influence creative output across various platforms. Reporting Structure: The Design Manager reports into a Marketing leadership role, likely a Marketing Manager or Director. They will be a key individual contributor with potential to guide junior designers or external agencies on specific projects. The role interfaces with cross-functional teams, making collaboration a key aspect of its operational dynamics. Operations Impact: The Design Manager's work directly impacts BioLife's brand perception, engagement with plasma donors, and internal communications. High-quality, compliant, and engaging creative assets are essential for attracting and retaining donors, supporting marketing campaigns, and maintaining a strong corporate brand identity. This role contributes to operational efficiency by streamlining content creation and asset management.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas such as AI-driven creative, advanced video production, brand strategy, or to move into a Senior Design Manager or Creative Director role overseeing larger teams and more complex campaigns.
• Skill Development: Opportunities to gain proficiency in new creative technologies, AI tools, and advanced digital marketing strategies. Exposure to regulatory compliance in the pharmaceutical sector can also be a valuable growth area.
• Cross-Functional Mobility: Experience in this role can open doors to broader marketing management, brand management, or even operational strategy roles within Takeda or BioLife, leveraging a strong understanding of brand communication and operational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career progression for experienced designers looking to move into management and strategic creative leadership within a stable, purpose-driven industry. The hybrid nature and emphasis on innovation suggest a modern approach to career development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is classified as "hybrid" by Takeda. This indicates a blend of remote work and in-office presence, likely at the Bannockburn, IL location. The office environment is expected to be professional and collaborative, supporting Takeda's corporate culture. Office Location(s): Primary location is Bannockburn, IL, with potential for interaction or collaboration with teams in Chicago, IL. Bannockburn is a suburban office hub north of Chicago, offering a mix of corporate campuses and accessibility. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office space will likely facilitate team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and in-person collaboration with marketing and operations stakeholders.
• Tech-Enabled: Expect access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and potentially specialized creative hardware or software licenses necessary for design and video production.
• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities to connect with colleagues, share creative ideas, receive feedback, and participate in team-building activities. The hybrid model necessitates proactive communication and engagement.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule of approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility in managing work location, but core working hours will need to accommodate team collaboration and project deadlines. The ability to adapt to rapid response situations for social media is also a key consideration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment requires self-discipline and proactive communication. Candidates should be comfortable managing their time effectively across both remote and in-office settings to maximize collaboration and productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, interest, and cultural fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager focusing on experience, creative philosophy, leadership style, and alignment with team needs.
• Portfolio Review & Creative Challenge: A critical stage where candidates present their portfolio, discuss past projects, and may be asked to complete a short creative exercise or case study relevant to BioLife's brand and objectives. This will assess problem-solving, creative execution, and strategic thinking.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from marketing, social media, and potentially operations to evaluate collaboration skills and ability to integrate into the broader team.
• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss final terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase breadth (digital, print, video) and depth (problem-solving, execution). For this role, prioritize social media content, brand collateral, and examples of asset management or workflow improvement.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your role, the creative process, the solution, and the measurable impact or outcome. Emphasize how you leveraged tools (including AI) and collaborated with stakeholders.
• Highlight AI Integration: If you have examples of using AI in your design process, be ready to discuss them, explaining the benefits and how you maintained creative control and brand integrity.
• Address Compliance: Briefly touch upon how you ensure creative work meets brand and regulatory standards, especially if you have relevant healthcare or regulated industry experience.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your creative process, how you handle feedback, your approach to managing multiple projects, and your vision for BioLife's creative output.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research BioLife Plasma Services, its mission, target audience (donors), and current marketing efforts. Familiarize yourself with Takeda's overall brand.
• Simulate Scenarios: Practice creating content concepts or design solutions for hypothetical BioLife campaigns or social media posts. Consider how to make plasma donation relatable and appealing.
• Focus on Efficiency: If a challenge involves workflow or asset management, be prepared to outline a structured, efficient approach. Think about how you would organize a library of assets.
• Articulate Your Rationale: Be ready to explain the strategic thinking behind your creative choices, connecting them back to BioLife's business objectives and target audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is likely the most critical component. Candidates should prepare a compelling narrative around their work, demonstrating not just creative skill but also strategic thinking, operational awareness, and adaptability, especially concerning new technologies like AI.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and After Effects for all aspects of visual content creation, editing, and graphic design.
• AI Content Generation Tools: Experience or a strong willingness to learn and utilize AI-powered tools for ideation, content creation (e.g., text-to-image, video editing assistance, copywriting), and workflow optimization.
• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Familiarity with DAM platforms for organizing, storing, and retrieving creative assets. Specific systems may vary, but the principles of taxonomy, metadata, and access control are key.
• Project Management Software: Proficiency with tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or Monday.com for managing creative projects, tracking tasks, and collaborating with teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Social Media Analytics Platforms: Experience with native analytics from platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and potentially third-party tools for monitoring content performance and engagement.
• Web Analytics: Basic understanding of tools like Google Analytics to understand how website content performs.
• Reporting Dashboards: Ability to create or contribute to performance reports and dashboards, visualizing key metrics for creative campaigns.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Familiarity with platforms like HubSpot, Marketo, or Salesforce Marketing Cloud is beneficial for understanding how creative assets integrate into broader marketing campaigns.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint for presentations, Excel for data analysis, Word for documentation, and SharePoint/Teams for collaboration and file sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong command of the Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. The emphasis on AI suggests that familiarity with or a strong aptitude for learning AI-driven creative tools will be a significant advantage. Experience with DAM systems and project management tools is crucial for the operational aspects of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Patient Focus: A deep commitment to the company's mission of improving patient lives through plasma-derived therapies, which translates into a focus on quality, safety, and donor experience in all creative output.
• Integrity & Compliance: Upholding the highest ethical standards and ensuring all creative materials meet strict regulatory requirements within the healthcare industry.
• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new technologies, creative approaches, and efficient workflows to stay ahead in a dynamic market and respond quickly to evolving needs.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional teams work together seamlessly to achieve common goals.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing performance data and insights to inform creative strategies and measure the impact of marketing efforts.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Communication: Encouraging open dialogue and proactive information sharing, especially in a hybrid work environment, to ensure alignment and address potential roadblocks.
• Feedback Integration: A culture that values constructive feedback, both giving and receiving, to continuously improve creative work and team processes.
• Shared Ownership: Promoting a sense of shared responsibility for project success, encouraging team members to contribute ideas and support each other's efforts.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Building strong working relationships with marketing, social media, web, and operational teams to ensure creative solutions are integrated and effective across all touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Takeda/BioLife is likely driven by a strong sense of purpose, demanding high standards of integrity and quality due to the nature of their work. The emphasis on innovation and collaboration suggests a forward-thinking and team-oriented environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Compliance: Navigating the stringent regulatory landscape of the pharmaceutical/healthcare industry while producing fresh, engaging, and innovative creative content.
• Managing Diverse Content Needs: Juggling creative demands for various platforms (social media, print, digital) and stakeholders (corporate, local centers) with limited resources.
• Integrating AI Effectively: Successfully incorporating AI tools into existing workflows in a way that enhances, rather than hinders, creative output and maintains brand authenticity.
• Hybrid Work Coordination: Ensuring seamless collaboration and consistent productivity across remote and in-office team members in a hybrid work model.
• Rapid Response Content: Developing the agility to create and deploy timely content for social media or urgent brand needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Emerging Tech Training: Access to resources and training to master new AI-powered creative tools and emerging digital marketing technologies.
• Industry Best Practices: Opportunities to attend industry conferences, webinars, and workshops focused on creative strategy, social media trends, and digital marketing innovation.
• Mentorship & Leadership Development: Potential for mentorship from senior marketing leaders and development programs focused on leadership, project management, and strategic planning.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Opportunities to learn about other areas of the business, such as operations, regulatory affairs, or broader marketing strategy, which can inform creative decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of roles in regulated industries that require creative innovation. The growth opportunities are substantial for someone looking to expand their skillset in cutting-edge creative technologies and gain broader marketing and operational experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing organic social media content from ideation to execution, including how you incorporate feedback and ensure brand compliance." (Focus on structured workflow, stakeholder management, and regulatory awareness.)
• "How would you leverage AI tools to enhance the creative output and efficiency of a team like ours at BioLife?" (Be prepared to discuss specific AI applications for content generation, editing, or asset management, and how you'd maintain quality.)
• "Walk us through a complex creative project where you had to manage multiple stakeholders and conflicting priorities. How did you ensure successful delivery?" (Highlight project management, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Takeda and BioLife Plasma Services, and how does our mission resonate with your career aspirations?" (Demonstrate thorough research and genuine interest in the company's purpose.)
• "How do you approach building and maintaining relationships with diverse stakeholders, from on-the-ground staff to senior executives?" (Emphasize interpersonal skills, empathy, and adaptability.)
• "Describe your experience with digital asset management. What are the key considerations for organizing and archiving creative assets in a regulated environment?" (Showcase your understanding of DAM principles and compliance needs.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Context is Key: For each project, set the stage by explaining the client/brand, the objective, and your specific role.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively. For video projects, show clips. For graphics, show the final assets. For print, show mockups or photos of the final product.
• Highlight Process & Tools: Briefly explain your creative process, including any innovative tools (like AI) or techniques you used.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, share metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your work (e.g., engagement rates, campaign reach, efficiency gains).
• Be Ready for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges encountered, and how you would adapt your approach for BioLife specifically.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their creative process, their understanding of the BioLife brand and mission, and their ability to integrate new technologies like AI. The interview will likely assess both creative talent and operational acumen.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the Takeda careers portal via the provided link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight experience relevant to content creation, social media, video production, digital asset management, and any AI integration. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible and showcases your most relevant work for this role.
• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience in design/creative roles, your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, and any experience in regulated industries or with AI tools. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Takeda and BioLife Plasma Services, focusing on their mission, brand, and recent marketing efforts. Practice presenting your portfolio and articulating your creative process and strategic thinking.
• Company & Role Alignment: Be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with the specific responsibilities and Takeda's values, emphasizing your ability to drive innovation and manage creative operations effectively.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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